YouTube has launched a preview of in-app messaging service on its Android and iOS apps - however, for now, it is only available for users in Canada. The new in-app messaging will allow users to share clips, links, text, and perhaps video too. Users in other regions can access the feature via invite. Last year in May, YouTube had confirmed it was testing the feature with limited users.
In a blog post on Google Canada's website, there is a video where the new feature has been shown as how this in-app messaging feature works. You can share a video with multiple users, chat with them, invite more users, and even reply with additional YouTube video links. Moreover, there will be a 'heart' inside the chat thread to express a like for a video or a message. YouTube videos will play inside the chat window, without users having to leave it. "Not only can you share and receive videos in the app, you can also chat about them right on YouTube, reply with another video, invite others to the conversation, and more." read the Google blog.
YouTube had briefly tested this feature in May last year without any further details for its rollout. It was also constrained only for a few users who were a part of YouTube's testing process. This time YouTube has only chosen Canada for the rollout of this feature under a new Sharing tab. Google has said in its blog post that Canadians share 15 percent more videos than an average YouTube user, so it's fair that they should see feature earlier than everybody else.
But if you are not in Canada and yet are enthusiastic about using this feature, you may need an invite from a friend who is already using this service. That could practically happen if your friend resides in Canada, they add you to their chat, or share a video in this fashion. After being added, you can share and chat with others as well.
The idea behind the YouTube messaging feature is to encourage users to stay within the YouTube app for sharing and conversing over a particular video, without having to switch between the other apps. The new in-app messaging feature is set to compete with Facebook's video service where you can comment, like, share, reply to comments and even privately share video with others. This feature is live on YouTube's Android app and its iOS counterpart as well in Canada.
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